Iran’s parliament backs enrichment beyond 20% as Tehran weighs return to talks

Iran’s parliament issued a firm statement on Wednesday defending the country’s nuclear program, saying that Tehran's right to uranium enrichment, including to levels beyond 20%, is non-negotiable.

The parliamentary declaration follows Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's skepticism on Tuesday regarding the success of ongoing indirect nuclear talks with the United States, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's announcement that Iran is assessing its participation in the next round of negotiations.

The statement, read by parliamentary presidium member Mohammad Rashidi, said that Iran’s enrichment levels would not be capped at below 20% and would instead be determined by peaceful domestic demands.

It emphasized the importance of nuclear technology for non-military uses such as medicine, agriculture, energy, and desalination.

Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state enriching uranium to 60% purity—a level the UN nuclear watchdog says has no credible civilian use and is technically close to weapons-grade 90% fissile material.

Lawmakers said Iran’s nuclear activities were fully in line with its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calling any abandonment of the program “a betrayal of national interests and the country’s future.”

The statement came hours after Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had yet to decide whether it would attend the next round of indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States.

“We are still assessing whether to participate,” Araghchi told reporters on Wednesday.

Araghchi added that uranium enrichment would continue “with or without an agreement,” and called on Western powers to lift what he described as “unjust sanctions.”

“If they make further demands and try to deprive us of our rights, there will be no room for acceptance,” he added.

Khamenei, who has the final say on state matters, warned on Tuesday that the outcome of diplomatic efforts remained unclear.

In their statement, Iranian lawmakers also said the US had no standing to dictate terms to Iran.

Following the reading of the statement, lawmakers chanted slogans against the United States and Israel.